'Black Ops II' gets micro-transactions, new title update, free Nuketown 2025 map

Treyarch released a new title update to Call of Duty: Black Ops II for the Xbox 360 on Tuesday along with details on a new micro-transaction system. Fans of the Nuketown map will also be happy to learn that its latest iteration will be made free for all as well.

The Black Ops II title update addresses the usual assortment of weapons balancing, spawn point balancing and bug fixing. It also adds new CODcasting features, the ability to view past seasons in League Play and background downloading while playing the game.

Activision and Treyarch are also introducing micro-transactions into the game on Wednesday, March 13 for the purpose of customizing weapon appearance and badges. While there are no transactions to boost players, there are themed weapon packs for 160 MS Points ($2) that let you decorate your weapon in bacon for example plus add new targeting reticles and player calling cards.

There will also be the "Extra Slots Pack" for 160 MS Points that opens up 10 more Create-A-Class Slots for players and frees up more space for 20 more emblems, 32 more films and 40 more screenshots.

The "Flags of the World Calling Card Packs" is also coming to allow players to purchase the flags of all countries in different regions for 80 MS Points ($1) each.

Micro-transactions in retail games has become a hot button topic of late but Activision community manager Dan Amrich notes: "At the end of the day, all of these items are completely optional, and were created for players who’ve asked for more customization options."

Those that feel like they've missed out on Nuketown 2025 can also download the map for free. Nuketown Zombies will cost 400 MS Points ($5), however.

Here's the complete changelog for the Black Ops II title update that was released.

Feature Improvements

The CODcast control panel can now optionally show the overhead map in the player list in games with 10 players or less.
Added the ability to view past seasons for all the leagues a team has been a part of in League History.
Background Downloading has been enabled on XBOX 360.

Multiplayer Issues Addressed

Resolved an issue where players were receiving an error message when trying to join a System Link or LAN Party lobby without internet connection.
Resolved Select Fire reverting back to default settings after a round transition.
Fixed a potential exploit using the Trophy System.
Addressed an issue with the Collector's Edition camo un-equipping from weapons.
Addressed an issue with the Peacekeeper not appearing for players that join into a match that is already in progress.
Resolved an issue on Drone where the automatic doors at the weapon plant would trigger/destroy Lethal Equipment.
Addressed an issue with the highlight for the Dual Band Scope on players equipped with certain weapons.
Fixed an issue with the planted bomb disappearing at the "B" site on Hydro when the water floods.
Addressed an issue with the VTOL Warship not destroying if hit when exiting the map.
Players will now be able to complete the Shredder Scorestreak challenge using a Death Machine from a care package.
The Stealth Chopper no longer counts towards completion of the Chopper Hunter challenge.
Resolved an issue where planted Riot Shields were not getting destroyed by the gondolas in Downhill.
Resolved an issue with C4 and Bouncing Betty's killing players on contact.
Fixed an issue where the Combat Axe would sometime destroy the Guardian.
Addressed a missing image issue with the Medals section of the Combat Record for new players.
Players with Hard Wired equipped will no longer lose their Care Package if throwing it while an enemy EMP Scorestreak is active.
Fixed an issue with bomb plants being automatically aborted while a Care Package or Hunter Killer Drone is equipped.
Hosts can now kick players in Custom Game lobbies.
Hint text for the Camera toggle in the Live Stream menu updated to include support for the XBOX 360 Kinect sensor.
Videos being rendered in the Theater will no longer be automatically canceled when the controller disconnects.
The CODcast UI is now displaying the flag for the Flag Carrier in the Objective column.
Addressed a button mapping issue in the Emblem Options menu.
Resolved an issue with the red crosshair appearing in the Target Finder when targeting an enemy equipped with Cold Blooded.
Fixed an issue with the stats tracking for the Executioner's Accuracy in the Combat Record.
Fixed an issue where the Friends List showed a joinable/green arrow icon for players who were not playing Call of Duty: Black Ops 2.
Resolved an issue where the turret in the northern building on Turbine would become unusable.
Addressed an issue with the Lightning Strike Scorestreak if the player had the tablet out during a host migration.
Fixed an issue with some weapons having invisible magazines from 3rd person animations during an automatic reload.
Resolved an issue on XBOX 360 with backing out of a Guest Account sign-in.
Addressed an issue where the game would sometimes crash after repeated host migrations.
Fixed knife lunge launching players on the Express map.
Fixed an issue where the player could get an empty War Machine or Death Machine when switching classes at the start of the match.
Addressed a loss of functionality for the player and guest when switching between Multiplayer and Zombies and having the guest switch back to Multiplayer.
Match clocks in Multi-Team and Free-for-All games modes no longer continue to tick down in Theater when a CODcast game is paused.
Resolved an issue where planting a Claymore in front of a crouched player with a Riot Shield would cause the Claymore to fly across the map.
Resolved a couple of overlapping UI issues when CODcasting.
Players can now turn the Voice Icon On/Off when CODcasting a match in Theater.

Gameplay Balancing

Spawn System Improvements:

Reduced the weight of positive team spawn influencers on owned Domination flags. This reduces cases in Domination where players may spawn near their team but also near danger.
Added more spawn points to Hijacked for Demolition and Kill Confirmed, which improves the spawn-picking algorithm on that map in those game modes.
Adjusted spawn influencers on Standoff for improved spawn-picking algorithms in all game modes.

SMGs:

MSMC: Recoil has been increased.
MSMC: Hip fire accuracy has been slightly reduced.
PDW57: Recoil has been increased.
PDW57: Hip fire accuracy has been slightly reduced.

Pistols:

KAP-40: Dual wield damage reduced.
KAP-40: Dual wield hip fire accuracy has been reduced.

Attachments:

MMS: Cold blooded now renders enemies almost completely invisible to MMS.

LMGs:

QBB-LSW: Medium range damage increased.
HAMR: Medium range damage increased.

Assault Rifles:

FAL OSW + Select Fire: Damage reduced when firing full auto.
SMR + Select Fire: Damage reduced when firing full auto.
Type 25: Move speed increased.
Type 25: Medium range damage increased.
SCAR: Long range damage increased.
SWAT-556: Long range damage increased.

Shotguns:

M1216: Medium range damage increased.

Sniper Rifles:

Ballista + Iron Sight: Idle sway reduced.

Zombies Issues Addressed

Resolved several issues with exploitable areas in the Die Rise
Resolved several exploits in Green Run
Resolved network/connectivity issues that could occur in the frontend and lobbies.

Via: One of Swords